VOL. 127 | NO. 99 | Monday, May 21, 2012
Shelby County Commissioners could end their budget season Monday, May 21, with votes on two budget resolutions.
SPECIAL EMPHASIS: Financial Services
Mobile devices complement – and supplant – services for many area banks
First Tennessee Bank is spending tens of millions of dollars at the moment on upgrades of its technology infrastructure as well as new product development.
The commercial lending landscape in the Memphis area continues to grind its way through an extended period of gradual improvement that began roughly two years ago after a dismal 2009.
Here’s a roundup of what some of the city’s banks and bankers, investment professionals, accountants and other financial services shops have been up to in recent weeks.
April home sales dipped in Fayette County but rose in Tipton County, and agents who specialize in each area say foreclosures are behind it all.
With an emerging economy and expanding middle class, the Philippines – the honored nation of this year’s Memphis in May International Festival – is experiencing a growing demand for biotechnology products. That demand is creating business opportunities for Mid-South life science companies seeking a market presence in the Southeast Asian country known as the “Pearl of the Orient.”
The time is drawing near for the schools consolidation planning commission. “I’m not going to tell you what I compared this to,” commission chairwoman Barbara Prescott said last week. “But it’s been almost nine months.”
GOVERNMENT AGENDA
The Shelby County Commission will meet Monday, May 21, at 1:30 p.m. in the Shelby County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St. Click on the meeting icon for an agenda.
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
The laws surrounding estate planning and employee benefit and health care packages are complex and ever-changing.
LOCAL COLUMNISTS
One of the most significant problems I hear about in my consulting practice is: “I never have enough time to get everything done.”
We need to talk more about fraud. We spend time with statistics and case studies to help us understand occupational fraud in general, but we need to clearly articulate how fraud negatively affects us all, and why it’s important that we as a business community talk about it.
THE MEMPHIS NEWS
Memphis Symphony Orchestra shares city’s stories during 60th anniversary season
For anyone who finds themselves in conversation with Mei-Ann Chen about the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, its big plans for the year and major guest performers who’ve been lined up, be prepared to get an earful on a topic about which Chen will evangelize, her smile broad and voice brimming with cheer.
We are in the midst of a season of change in the sprawling musical landscape known as Memphis music.
The Memphis Symphony Orchestra will finish out this season’s First Tennessee Masterworks concert series with an ancient work which has woven itself into present day culture.
MEMPHIS AREA
MINDEN, La. (AP) – International Paper says it will permanently close its Minden Container Plant by July 17, resulting in the loss of approximately 60 jobs.
REGIONAL
CORINTH, Miss. (AP) – Officials say a new facility for Caterpillar will house warehouse and logistics operations and create 35 jobs over the next three years.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) – Facebook updated its status to "public company" on Friday.
If you're lucky enough to live in some parts of the United States, you may see gas pump prices fall to around $3.25 a gallon or less in the next week or two. Even West Coast drivers should get some relief from prices that are still above $4 a gallon.
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Aviation Administration will revisit a decision to exempt cargo airlines from new rules to prevent pilot fatigue, saying it made "errors" in cost calculations used to justify the exemption.